JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Across Jacksonville, some families already struggling to put food on the table are now facing even greater uncertainty as the federal shutdown halts SNAP benefits.<\/p>\n
For many in Northwest Jacksonville, the struggle has stretched on for months. Among them is Mary Hall, a mother of nine who lost her home in a fire three months ago and is now waiting for her food assistance to restart.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMy house burnt down. I\u2019m just trying to make ends meet with me and my kids,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n With her SNAP benefits paused, Hall said the shutdown has made an already difficult situation even harder.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it\u2019s crazy, and it started something that we all need don\u2019t need to be a part of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Outside Jerome Brown Barbecue in Northwest Jacksonville, more than 30 people gathered Friday, waiting for a hot meal. Many of them, like Hall, have been struggling since their SNAP benefits were suspended due to the shutdown.<\/p>\n The government\u2019s pause on food assistance affects nearly three million Floridians, leaving families across the state in uncertainty. To help fill the gap, Jerome Brown Barbecue opened its doors, serving free meals to anyone in need.<\/p>\n